Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Rent averages $647/mo less ($1,706 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $84k less ($553,000 vs $637,400)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $42,213/yr
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
52% less violent crime than Arvada
Households earn $42,213 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Home Value
$84k less
$553,000 vs $637,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$42,213
$148,227 vs $106,014/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
52% lower
138.1 vs 285.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 40.2 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $637,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 22 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.